There was a time when I would have used to say, "I hate cities." I am a nature girl. I love walking through the canopied pathways on a cool fall day as the leaves crunch under my feet and the trees are vibrant with color, however; there has been a change. I still love those walks and nature makes my fall on my face before our Father but there was a day almost two years ago I found myself in a dirty poverty stricken city in Mexico. Where I went into homes in which eight people would live in a twelve by sixteen home constructed of plywood and two by fours. My heart fell in love with those people but still I would adamantly hold to hating cities except that one. This weekend I found myself in another dirty poverty stricken city. It is a city I have been to many times only I never saw its real heart. I served along side whose home was called, the streets. I talked with those who yearned for love but were so neglected. I was hugged by people who came to that establishment to receive food for their families. I drove over gang lines and heard stories from thirteen year old boys who live in what they call Vietnam. I talked with a woman who though had no home but loved our Father so dearly. I saw a man neglected as a couple walked by not even acknowledging his presence. I saw deals made. My mind is spinning with all the things I saw, experienced, and the people I came in contact with. I left all that today and fought tears as we pulled away from that city.
It's been a few weeks now that the issues of poverty have really loomed over me. It's been a few weeks now that my heart has been beaten. This weekend, my heart was obliterated. Even now as I sit here trying to figure out how to convey the pain I feel, I'm at loss for words. This isn't right. People shouldn't be neglected. People shouldn't be sold. People shouldn't have to live on the streets or structures that are barely a step up. People shouldn't have join gangs for family. People shouldn't sell themselves for security. It's not right. I have always ask that my Father would break my heart for the things that break His - He's doing it. Continue Father continue. I cry out and praise You for the Cross for You have defeated all of the disgusting list above and every other disgusting list out there.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
All too Forgotten
Prayer.
James 5:16
Isn't it amazing that Christ's church would do anything without prayer?
Ephesian 6:10-20// how are we to put on the Armor? by prayer...why? God IS the armor
Our true aim must not be to work a great deal and pray just enough to keep the work right. We should pray a great deal and then work enough for the power and blessing obtained in prayer to fin its way through us to men.
_Andrew Murray
Luke 18:1-8 // which is crazier? one women who continues to go to the judge who won't give it or God's chosen ones not coming back to God to ask when God promises to grant it?
A calm hour with God is worth a whole lifetime with man...the work of God would flourish by us, if it flourished more in us.
_Murray McCheyne
Matthew 6:9-15
Why is it hard to pray?
we don't believe we are really doing anything when we pray
we rarely see prayer as the solution but more so as preparation for the solution
My life is one long, daily,hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for enmity to the gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything that goes to make up life and my poo service...I can testify with a full and often wonder-stricken awe that I...know God answers prayer. I have proved during the long decades alone, as far as man's help is concerned, that God answers prayer...It is the very atmosphere in which I live and breathe and have my being, and it makes life grand and free and a million times worth living. I can give no other testimony...Good is scarce just now. We life from hand to mouth. We have not more than will be our breakfast today, but I know we shall be fed, for God answers prayer...Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service. Praying is harder work than doing...but the dynamic lies that way to advance the kingdom.
_ Mary Slessor
James 5:16
Isn't it amazing that Christ's church would do anything without prayer?
Ephesian 6:10-20// how are we to put on the Armor? by prayer...why? God IS the armor
Our true aim must not be to work a great deal and pray just enough to keep the work right. We should pray a great deal and then work enough for the power and blessing obtained in prayer to fin its way through us to men.
_Andrew Murray
Luke 18:1-8 // which is crazier? one women who continues to go to the judge who won't give it or God's chosen ones not coming back to God to ask when God promises to grant it?
A calm hour with God is worth a whole lifetime with man...the work of God would flourish by us, if it flourished more in us.
_Murray McCheyne
Matthew 6:9-15
Why is it hard to pray?
we don't believe we are really doing anything when we pray
we rarely see prayer as the solution but more so as preparation for the solution
My life is one long, daily,hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for enmity to the gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything that goes to make up life and my poo service...I can testify with a full and often wonder-stricken awe that I...know God answers prayer. I have proved during the long decades alone, as far as man's help is concerned, that God answers prayer...It is the very atmosphere in which I live and breathe and have my being, and it makes life grand and free and a million times worth living. I can give no other testimony...Good is scarce just now. We life from hand to mouth. We have not more than will be our breakfast today, but I know we shall be fed, for God answers prayer...Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service. Praying is harder work than doing...but the dynamic lies that way to advance the kingdom.
_ Mary Slessor
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Not Through my Eyes
Earlier this week as I was reading and praying some things stuck out to me. First off in Psalm 16 the last verse says:
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
So often I'm on the side of things that I only see what He hasn't shown me and forget to praise Him for what He has shown me for He does make the path of life known to me, in His timing. mmm :] Praise God! And if the fullness of joy is in His presence why am I so stupid to leave it? Oh a life marked by the curse of sin yet covered and redeemed by salvation. Last year during the spring season at Caravan (jan-may) there was something I used to say constantly, "We have salvation so how does that affect my life?" Man, if I were to wake up every day with that though process realizing the depth of my sin and the great extent of salvation my life would be so drastically different. Which I think lead me to pray from Brandon Heath's song this morning. To pray that our Father would give me His eyes to see everything as He does so that I may love as He does and therefore proclaim and glorify His name!
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
So often I'm on the side of things that I only see what He hasn't shown me and forget to praise Him for what He has shown me for He does make the path of life known to me, in His timing. mmm :] Praise God! And if the fullness of joy is in His presence why am I so stupid to leave it? Oh a life marked by the curse of sin yet covered and redeemed by salvation. Last year during the spring season at Caravan (jan-may) there was something I used to say constantly, "We have salvation so how does that affect my life?" Man, if I were to wake up every day with that though process realizing the depth of my sin and the great extent of salvation my life would be so drastically different. Which I think lead me to pray from Brandon Heath's song this morning. To pray that our Father would give me His eyes to see everything as He does so that I may love as He does and therefore proclaim and glorify His name!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
More than t-shirts
Recently I have been struggling with the idea of the affluent lifestyle. I have never been one to want the American dream. Even when I was young and teachers always asked, "what you do want to be?" Kids would answer a job that would get them money but me I didn't want that I just wanted to make an impact. Thankfully it seems my generation is getting a hold of the reality that money is not life. My generation has found social activism in vogue. They will buy RED products, ONE bracelets, Tom shoes, or t-shirts supporting the organization of their choosing to that parts of the funds go towards fighting poverty. While some do so out of fashion, I know others do so out of genuine concern and either way I guess something is being done but as a Christ Follower, I want to live beyond t-shirts and the vogue. But this is what I am struggling with, I don't know how I am suppose to be doing that right now. India and Mexico continue to come to my mind right now after living in Mexico and just recently watching Slumdog Millionaire. How can I complain about food when I have food? Clothes when I have options? Shoes when I have some to wear? College when I have more then a high school education? How can I worry about money for college when I am in college and even have that problem? How can I justify asking for birthday/Christmas presents? Some day I hope to be out in those communities but I am here right now therefore, how do we as Christ believers in North America deal with this right now?
I thank God for the power and the tool of prayer and I know that is something we can be doing for that is more powerful than any of our "man works" for as Hans von Staden said, "When man works, man works; when man prays, God works." But what about physically, how can we be vessels for Christ?
thoughts from Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider:
"Keep you life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never fail you nor forsake you'" (Heb 13:5). Our Future is secure not because of our possessions but because it rest in the hands of a loving, omnipotent Father. If we truly trust in him and are unconditionally submitted to his lordship, we can confidently imitate Jesus' carefree unconcern for property and possessions." - pg. 107
"Either Jesus and his kingdom matter so much that we are ready to sacrifice everything else, including our possessions, or we are not serious about Jesus." - pg. 106
"What is the secret of such carefree living? First, many people cling to their possessions instead of sharing them because they are worried about the future. But is not such an attitude finally unbelief? If we really believe that God is who Jesus said he is, then we can begin to live without anxiety for the future." - pg. 105
I thank God for the power and the tool of prayer and I know that is something we can be doing for that is more powerful than any of our "man works" for as Hans von Staden said, "When man works, man works; when man prays, God works." But what about physically, how can we be vessels for Christ?
thoughts from Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider:
"Keep you life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never fail you nor forsake you'" (Heb 13:5). Our Future is secure not because of our possessions but because it rest in the hands of a loving, omnipotent Father. If we truly trust in him and are unconditionally submitted to his lordship, we can confidently imitate Jesus' carefree unconcern for property and possessions." - pg. 107
"Either Jesus and his kingdom matter so much that we are ready to sacrifice everything else, including our possessions, or we are not serious about Jesus." - pg. 106
"What is the secret of such carefree living? First, many people cling to their possessions instead of sharing them because they are worried about the future. But is not such an attitude finally unbelief? If we really believe that God is who Jesus said he is, then we can begin to live without anxiety for the future." - pg. 105
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